“Hank could not effectively love his wife or his children or people outside his family. He was easily irritated. He had little use for the poor, and a casual contempt for those who accents or skin pigment differed from his own. …He critiqued and judged and complained, and his soul got a little smaller each year. Hank was not changing. He was once a cranky young guy, and he grew up to be a cranky old man. But even more troubling than his lack of change was the fact that nobody was surprised by it. …It was not an anomaly that caused head-scratching bewilderment. No church consultants were called in. No emergency meetings were held…. We did not expect that Hank would progressively become the way Jesus would be if he were in Hank’s place. We didn’t assume that each year would find him a more compassionate, joyful, gracious, winsome personality. …So we were not shocked when it didn’t happen.” John Ortberg

“True holiness consists in the love of God and love of man…. The duties of love to God and our fellow-creatures are to be regarded as the substance of the moral law. …the very central point, in which all the means of grace and all the ordinances of religion terminate.” James Hervey

“What does the Lord do to …assist me in seeing how selfish I am? Very simple: He gives me four busy kids who step on shoes, wrinkle clothes, spill milk, lick car windows, and drop sticky candy on the carpet…. Being unselfish in attitude strikes at the very core of our being. It means we are willing to forgo our own comfort, our own preferences, our own schedule, our own desires for another’s benefit.” Charles Swindoll

“… the goal of the command is love.” 1 Timothy 1:5

Moving From the Head to the Heart

• Can you trust that God’s “means of grace” are at work when your stuff is wrecked or your schedule interrupted – either by your kids, or others?
• Unlike Hank, are you becoming more loving as the years go by? Can you think of anything God wants for you more than that?
• What practices are helping you to love well?

Abba, may the means of grace and the ordinances of religion accomplish their work in me – that I might be a person who loves well.

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For More: The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg

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These “Daily Riches” are for your encouragement as you seek after God and he seeks after you. I hope you’ll follow my blog, and share it. My goal is to share something of unique value with you daily in 400 words or less. I appreciate your interest!  –  Bill (Psalm 90:14)